How to Claim Montana (MT)
Lottery Prizes
Claim a Montana Lottery prize under $600 at any retailer or Montana Lottery Headquarters in Helena and $600 or more at Montana Lottery Headquarters in Helena, within 180 days of the drawing. Any prize can be claimed by mail.
Where to Claim Your Montana Lottery Prize
Won? You have 180 days to cash it in.
Where to Cash a Winning Ticket
Where you can cash a Montana Lottery prize depends on how much it is.
- Under $600Signed ticket at a store
- Any lottery retailer
- Montana Lottery Headquarters
- By mail
- $600+Claim form and ID
- Montana Lottery Headquarters
- By mail
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Play scratch-offs too?Up to x5.09 better jackpot odds
For $50K to $1M+ jackpots on the best Montana scratch-offs. ScratchOdds ranks all 33 by today's odds.
For $50K to $1M+ jackpots on the best Montana scratch-offs.
Get the Free AppSee the Best Ones
Good to Know
Claim deadline
180 days after the drawing
Take a jackpot's cash option within 60 days of claiming the prize.
When you're paid
Montana Lottery sales agents pay prizes of $599 or less when you claim.
Claim by mail
Any prize
Montana Lottery, P.O. Box 6073, Helena, MT 59604-6073
Taxes on winnings
24% federal withheld over $5,000
State tax up to 5.65%; 5.9% withheld over $5,000. See your take-home
Can you stay anonymous?
Yes
Montana Lottery Claim Forms
From $600, bring your signed ticket, ID and a completed claim form.
Full checklist (4 items)
- The original winning ticket, signed, with your name, address and phone number on the back
- For a prize of $600 or more, a completed and signed Winner Claim Form, which the office also has
- For a prize of $600 or more, a clear photocopy of a driver's license, state ID card, military ID or passport
- For a prize of $600 or more, your Social Security or federal tax identification number, for tax reporting
Montana Lottery Headquarters
Bring your ticket, claim form and ID.
Montana Lottery Headquarters
2525 North Montana Avenue, Helena, MT 59601Walk-ins welcomeHours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PMPhone: 406-444-5825
More Claim Rules
- Debts owed to the state
- By law, the lottery holds back winnings to pay unpaid child support, or unpaid unemployment insurance overpayments, taxes, penalties or interest. If the prize is more than the debt, the rest is paid to the winner.
- Your name
- Montana law keeps a winner's name and personal details private unless the winner agrees in writing. The lottery does release the amount won, where the ticket was sold, the winner's home community, the game and the drawing date.
- Group wins
- Only one person may claim a prize. Winners sharing a prize can split the tax by sending IRS Form 5754 to the lottery, and each gets their own W-2G.
- Sign your ticket
- A ticket belongs to whoever signs the back, and an unsigned ticket to whoever holds it, so sign it and add your address. A lost or stolen ticket can't be claimed.
- Claiming by mail
- Mail the signed ticket, a completed Winner Claim Form and a clear photocopy of your ID; certified mail is recommended. Don't attach the ticket to the form, and keep copies of the form and both sides of the ticket.
- Cash or yearly payments
- Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto America jackpot winners choose cash or yearly payments within 60 days of becoming entitled to the prize. Without a choice, the prize is paid yearly, and a choice once made is final.
- Yearly payments
- If a Powerball, Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life or Lotto America winner dies before every yearly payment is made, the lottery keeps paying them on schedule to the winner's estate, trust or heirs.
Reviewed by Bishop Woosley, former Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and NASPL President.
You can't change the lottery's odds.
You can pick better scratch-offs.
The best Montana scratch-offs right now have up to x5.09 better jackpot odds for $50K to $1M+ jackpots.
Every Montana scratch-off ranked by today's odds- The best tickets for your budget and the prize you want
- A free app, built on official Montana Lottery data
More Montana Lottery Help
Check your numbers, the best scratch-offs, and claiming in other states.
Montana Scratch-Offs
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about the Montana Lottery
Where can I claim lottery winnings in Montana?
Under $600: Any lottery retailer, Montana Lottery Headquarters or by mail. $600 or more: Montana Lottery Headquarters or by mail.
Where can I cash a $1,000 lottery ticket in Montana?
Not at a store: Montana Lottery retailers pay prizes up to $599. $600 or more: Montana Lottery Headquarters or by mail.
What time can you cash lottery tickets in Montana?
Any Montana Lottery retailer cashes prizes up to $599 whenever it's open. Montana Lottery Headquarters is open Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM.
What should I do if I win the Montana Lottery?
Sign your ticket and keep it safe, then claim it within 180 days of the drawing. Under $600: Any lottery retailer, Montana Lottery Headquarters or by mail. $600 or more: Montana Lottery Headquarters or by mail. From $600, bring your signed ticket, ID and a completed claim form.
How long do you have to claim a Montana Lottery prize?
180 days after the drawing. A jackpot's cash option must be chosen within 60 days of claiming the prize.
Do Montana Lottery tickets expire?
Yes. A winning ticket must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing, or the prize can no longer be paid.
What do I need to claim a Montana Lottery prize?
At a store, a prize up to $599 needs just the signed ticket. From $600: The original winning ticket, signed, with your name, address and phone number on the back; For a prize of $600 or more, a completed and signed Winner Claim Form, which the office also has; For a prize of $600 or more, a clear photocopy of a driver's license, state ID card, military ID or passport; For a prize of $600 or more, your Social Security or federal tax identification number, for tax reporting.
Do I need an appointment at Montana Lottery Headquarters?
No. Lottery Headquarters take walk-ins during office hours.
Can I claim a Montana Lottery prize by mail?
Yes, any prize. Mail the signed ticket, with any copies the Montana Lottery asks for, to Montana Lottery, P.O. Box 6073, Helena, MT 59604-6073. Prizes from $600 also need a completed claim form.
How long does it take to get Montana Lottery winnings?
Montana Lottery sales agents pay prizes of $599 or less when you claim. Prizes of $600 or more are paid by the lottery in Helena, in person or by mail, once your claim and ID are checked.
Can you claim lottery winnings anonymously in Montana?
Yes.
Can I claim a Montana Lottery prize online?
No. Claim in person or by mail.
What is the Montana Lottery phone number?
406-444-5825 for customer service.
Where is Montana Lottery headquarters?
Montana Lottery Headquarters is at 2525 North Montana Avenue, Helena, MT 59601, open Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM. Call 406-444-5825.
Are lottery winnings taxed in Montana?
Montana taxes lottery winnings at up to 5.65%, and federal income tax applies too. 24% federal and 5.9% state tax are withheld from prizes over $5,000.
Still have questions? Email our support team
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